BREAKING

Event Reports

Big Mountain Run

Back For Year 5

Article By: Matt Reel

Photos By: Rebecca, Mad Stork, Chrs Callen, Jeff Cochran

Originally Published In The September 2014 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

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As I sit here at my laptop I’m trying to figure out how to put into words my favorite event of the year. For anyone who has never attended The Big Mountain Run this is not your typical motorcycle rally. BMR is not about parking your ride and walking around a fair ground looking at tent after tent of $69.95 Chinese chaps. BMR is about riding your motorcycle , reuniting with old friends, making new friends, and enjoying life in the beautiful mountains of this great country. The Big Mountain Run is the brain child of Chris Callen. Wanting to get back to some of the times he so fondly remembered of guys riding together, fixing each other’s bikes, and no B.S. BMR was born in 2009.

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The 2009 event included a couple nights of riding and camping in the mountains of Tennessee. In 2010 and 2011 we returned to Tennessee with stops at Wicked Willy’s Custom Cycles and Wheels Thru Time Museum where we camped, repaired motorcycles and were treated like VIP’s. Our routes always included The Tail of the Dragon and The Cherohala Skyway, some truly amazing riding, and then into Reliance, TN to camp at a whitewater outfitters for the weekend. In 2012 a scheduling conflict forced us to find a new weekend camp site. As luck would have it a new site was found only a few miles from the original. With things all lined up we traveled our same route and made our way to the new campground , another great year was in the books. Then came 2013. As everyone waited for BMR info to hit the magazine little did we know Chris was waiting on the venue owner to confirm with him. At the last minute the venue owner completely cancelled and a collective sigh was heard through Cycle Source nation, we weren’t getting together this year.

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Now it’s time to plan for 2014. What is going to become of The Big Mountain Run? We have relocated once and then had the new location pulled out from under us. Up steps “Panhead” Frank Dotson. Let’s move the whole thing to West Virginia is Frank’s suggestion. Yeah, why not, we definitely have mountains in West Virginia. So, Frank takes the reins of The BMR and starts to put things together. A list is jotted down and the planning begins. To get things going Frank started recruiting help. Everyone from his family to local businesses and visitor’s bureau stepped up. Right off the bat BMR was welcomed to West Virginia. Tucker County stepped up with the use of their fair grounds, Mtn State Brewery came through with sponsorship for the entertainment and providing some of their local brewed adult beverages. When it came to a route for the ride R.J. Powell planned it out and Triple S Harley Davidson welcomed us as the kick off point. Bucks Indian in Romney, WV provided camping for the first night of the ride as well as opening the doors to their amazing Indian Motorcycle collection and feeding us. So now that you have had a brief history of The Big Mountain Run and how it ended up in The Mountain State I’m sure you’re asking, “How was it”. Well, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. The best way I can think of to tell the story is to break it down day by day, so here goes.

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Tuesday—The plan for Tuesday was simple, everyone was going to start meeting up at Triple S Harley Davidson so we could leave out Wednesday morning(ish). The understanding was Triple S was going to let us hang out in their new shop and camp in their parking lot. When everyone started to roll in we were surprised to find that not only had they hired a band to play for us, the incredible Bad Mother Trucker, they also fed us with some amazing BBQ. With our bellys full and the band winding down everyone moved over to the far end of the building where the Cycle Source mobile Drive-In theatre had been set up. Later in the evening activities settled into getting reacquainted, meeting new friends, and playing acoustic guitars and singing before everyone finally decided to try and get a couple hours of sleep.

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Wednesday—With everyone starting to stir with not nearly enough sleep Wednesday arrived. The plan for the day was simple, RIDE MOTORCYCLES. Everyone was handed a map of the route we were taking to the night’s destination and The Big Mountain Run Gypsy Tour was on. The group left out of Triple S Harley Davidson for a beautiful ride through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The route was awesome and the weather was great. The pack was moving along with my girl, Rebecca, and I weaving through while she is shooting pictures off the back of the bike. Part way through the ride Chris’ Pan decided 4th gear was its favorite and wouldn’t shift into any other. The Pan was loaded up and Rebecca stepped up and offered to ride with Panhead Frank so that Chris could ride backwards on my bike and take pictures, interesting to say the least.

So at this point it’s getting close to lunch and everyone is getting hungry. We roll into a little roadside bar called Walat’s. So Walat’s is your typical little bar with a grouchy old bastard tending bar who, once it was all over with, I wouldn’t have traded for anyone. This guy was the topic of a conversation the rest of the week. So we’re enjoying our drinks and listening to the bartender bitch when the food starts to come out. Now let me tell you the food was amazing. Hamburgers with 2 inch thick hand patted patties, $5 ham sandwiches with about $7 worth of thick sliced ham on it, and foot long hot dogs on toasted garlic bread.

With everyone fed and fully entertained by the bartender it was time to get on the road and head for our destination for the night, Bucks Indian. A few miles down the road a few of us pulled off to fuel our bikes up. While standing in the gas station parking lot I noticed it was pouring the rain down in the grocery store parking lot next door. Within seconds it was pouring the rain down in the gas station lot too. After about a half hour the rain let up and we decided to throw on some rain gear and take off. Suddenly, I remembered I had taken my rain gear off the bike to make room when Chris was taking pictures; it was still in the van. Oh well, the rain had let up, let’s get going. A few miles down the road the rain started again and poured on us for about 5 miles. No big deal I had my friends, my girl, and my motorcycle, all was good.

When we finally rolled into Bucks Indian in Romney WV the sun was shining on us, everyone was dry and happy. Bucks Indian had agreed to open the doors of their museum to us and clear a field for us to camp. What they did was basically open their home to us. Hot dogs and hamburgers were awaiting us when we rolled in. The shop was opened up so that the 4th gear happy transmission in Chris’ Pan could be repaired, wet clothes were dried and door prizes were given out. All this on top of the amazing Indian motorcycles and memorabilia that was on display for us to enjoy. As the evening rolled in so did the rain and everyone started searching for their tents to get ready for tomorrow.

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Thursday—Thursday morning rolled around and we were met with blue skies and sunshine. As the camps were packed up the discussion of the different routes that could be taken to get to our final destination could be heard. Some chose the longer route to take in a little more of the scenic West Virginia roads while some of the locals chose a more direct route to get to the fairgrounds in Parsons, WV. One thing was for sure no matter what route you chose the riding was amazing. As people started rolling into the fairgrounds in Parsons camps were set up and an evening of visiting, eating, and drinking began. Discussions ranged from the past days rides to repairs that may need made before the ride home, and of course stories of the grouchy bartender at that one bar.

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Friday—With the rise of the sun Friday came the beginning of many of the day’s activities. As late comers rolled into the grounds others took off on rides to take in the sites the area offered. Many of those that had spent the last few days riding chose to find a nice shady spot and relax for the day. As afternoon arrived most everyone saddled up and headed out for a short ride to a local camp store called Patriots 4. Patriots 4 put on a BBQ for everyone, and provided inner tubes and rafts for those who chose to play in the river.

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Saturday—Saturday at BMR had a lot going on. Biker games kicked the day off with a slow race, greased board ride, keg race, and weanie bite were on the bill. After the games the ride in bike show started with everyone showing off the bikes they rode across the country on. Going on at the same time as these events was the Hillbilly Invitational Pro Builders show, an event with some amazing motorcycles. Metzler Tires sponsored a burn out contest that was won by Darren McKeag (if you have ever been to a burn out contest that Darren was entered in you aren’t surprised). All this was going on while live music was being provided by everything from the teen age rock band 5th Gear to Big House Pete. As the evening wound down awards were handed out for the ride in show, the Hillbilly Invitational winner announced and the Indian Larry Twisted Down Tube frame handed over to its new owner Mike Cogar. The bands then played the night away and everyone slowly worked their way back to their tents in preparation for the ride home in the morning.

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Sunday—Sunday came and everyone started packing up and saying good bye until the next event or for some until next year. I could fill this entire magazine with BMR stories. I’ve never mentioned the visit by George the Painter, Squirrel’s 3am flat track hot laps on his Pan, helping Bean’re put wheel bearings in his bike, or thank Terry Summers for letting me ride his barn fresh 1935 Harley Davidson (who does that?). The best thing I can tell everyone is come to The Big Mountain Run and create your own memories…. See ya next year.

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